I feel like that before. You could afford both champions and mastery. You could buy champ shards for Influnce Points. But beside dischant champion shards you might have gotten from chest. Since you like once in a while earned key fragments that you could craft keys with. For me i think it was easier cause you dont spend the same type of "points" or in this case blue essence and influnce points on the same thing... If you know what i mean.